Nikola Vučević was back for the Celtics on Sunday, returning from a 14-game absence because of a fractured right ring finger as Boston beat the Raptors 115-101 at TD Garden. The 35-year-old center played 13 minutes in his first game since the Feb. 5 trade from the Bulls, and finished minus-14.
For Boston, the timing matters. With four games left and a magic number of two to clinch the No. 2 seed, the Celtics also need to get Vučević into shape and adjusted to his new teammates before the playoffs begin.
That has not been simple. Since the trade for Anfernee Simons, Neemias Queta has taken a chunk of the minutes at center and Luka Garza has flourished as the backup, leaving Boston with a rotation that has already shifted once while Vučević was out. The Celtics want three productive centers entering the postseason, especially against physical teams such as Detroit, Cleveland and Atlanta.
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Vučević has not looked fully settled in Boston yet. He has made 33 percent of his 3-point attempts, going 13 for 39, while averaging 9.9 points and 6.9 rebounds in about 21 minutes per game. Even so, Sunday gave him a first step back into the group, and he said the chemistry will come only through time on the floor and in practice. He said it was good to get these five games in before the playoffs, though he added that a full month of preparation would have helped.
His approach, he said, is simple: do not overthink it, play his game, and follow the message from Joe Mazzulla and the coaching staff to do what he does. For a two-time All-Star who has played in 16 playoff games and never advanced past the first round, the next stretch is about fitting in fast enough for Boston to make its frontcourt count when it matters most.
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The Celtics do not need Vučević to be perfect right away. They need him ready by the time the games get heavier, the possessions get tighter and the playoff race turns into the part of the season that exposes every weakness.
